Yoga For Your Mind

March 7, 2014

I love my brisk walks and cardio workouts to get me fit and give me oodles of physical energy to get me through my day, but I find that I need mental energy, too. For that, I turn to yoga to seek peace and balance.

Yoga is great for toning the body, but it’s also amazing for toning the mind. Did you know that practicing yoga has many psychological benefits? It improves cognitive function, concentration, memory and attention – there’s that mental energy I’m talking about. It also improves your mood and sense of well being. It can even help fight off depression. Practicing yoga can also increase positive emotions and your sense of peace.

For all of us, life is a balancing act. Me – I’m balancing running a business that’s getting more fabulously busy every day, taking care of my boys and making sure I give them the attention they need, loving and supporting my husband, and making time for friends and family. It may seem counter-intuitive to take the time to do yoga when I’ve got all that going on, but yoga helps me increase my concentration and focus so I can be present with the people I’m with at the moment. I love that and so do they.

Yoga can be practiced by anyone, anywhere. It doesn’t have to cost any money. You can do a free 30-day yoga class from DoYouYoga on their YouTube channel. Each video is 10-20 minutes of private yoga instruction you can do at home by yourself, with a friend, or grab the kids and get them involved.

Or, you can go to a yoga studio and participate in the community building that’s another one of yoga’s benefits. If you’re in my neck of the woods – the South Jersey/Philly region – check out my friend Nicole Cucinotta’s Grace & Glory Yoga studio down by the shore. I hear here her classes are AMAZING and I can’t wait to try one this summer:) Or if you’re closer to Philly, Anjali has amazing power yoga classes at their four locations.

Of course, if you’re located somewhere else, you’ll be able to find a yoga studio near you. They’re everywhere because people love to tap into the peace and balance that yoga brings.